Some
of the officers formed a wall near the President’s and Deputy
President’s offices and directed the public to use alternative routes.

Journalists
and those authorised to access the premises were thoroughly screened as
MPs opposed to the passage of the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill
engaged the ruling coalition.

About seven people who
attempted to publicly declare their disapproval of the Bill were
arrested as the hawk-eyed security personnel questioned everyone who
dared move close to Parliament.

Members of the civil
society who had planned to stage protests against the Bill had no option
but to watch the unfolding events from a distance.

Cord Members of Parliament protest against the
passing of the Security (Amendment) Bill 2014 outside Parliament.

At
one time, one person suspected to be a police officer in civilian
clothes was arrested near the entrance of Parliament after he was
allegedly overheard by his seniors discussing the merits and demerits of
the Bill.

Some Cord senators monitored the proceedings
on television screens next to the entrance of the chamber before opting
to move to the Speaker’s gallery.

However, Speaker Justin Muturi ordered that the five senators be ejected from the gallery when chaos ensued.

They remained seated in the
gallery even as the House was adjourned for 30 minutes in an apparent
attempt to allow members who had become rowdy to calm down.

Mr Wetang’ula said the Speaker’s directive to have them thrown out of the gallery was misguided and an abuse of power.

“We
are MPs and have a right to sit here and follow the proceedings. If the
Jubilee Government is watching the proceedings then it should
immediately withdraw this Bill. We do not want anybody to impose
anything on Kenyans,” he said.

In reference to the
contingent of police on guard around Parliament, he said it was
unfortunate that the Jubilee administration was already implementing the
proposed law before it was passed.

“That is why they
have cordoned off Parliament. If anyone is in doubt of how a police
state will look like, you can see the dress rehearsal today around
Parliament. The recreation of a police state is way underway under the
Jubilee regime,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

MISCHIEVOUS LEGISLATION

He,
however, said that Kenyans would not be cowed by the presence of
security personnel to keep silent when the Constitution is being
mutilated in the guise that the government was fighting terrorism, by
sneaking mischievous legislation into the Bill.

“We are
not going to watch this happen. We have people who are ready to face
bullets. We stand here today ready for whatever consequences because we
are on the side of history; we are on the side of Kenyans, fairness,
justice and truth,” he said.

Mr Muthama said there was no justifiable reason for the government to deploy such a contingent of police to man Parliament.

“There
are no terrorists here. This National Assembly is a public place where
members of public can come and listen to what their leaders are saying,”
said Mr Muthama.